A West Bank civic leader pleaded with the Jefferson Parish Council Wednesday to contest the election that approved an extension of the Crescent City Connection tolls. Citing the 18-vote difference favoring approval, Wade Perrin, president of the Voters League of Unincorporated West Jefferson said such a slender margin dictates a re-examination of the vote to ensure the accuracy of...

A West Bank civic leader pleaded with the Jefferson Parish Council Wednesday to contest the election that approved an extension of the Crescent City Connection tolls. Citing the 18-vote difference favoring approval, Wade Perrin, president of the Voters League of Unincorporated West Jefferson said such a slender margin dictates a re-examination of the vote to ensure the accuracy of the count.

Jefferson Parish

The deadline to challenge the vote is Dec. 19.

More than 308,000 votes were cast in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes. Jefferson and Plaquemines rejected the measure, with Orleans supporting the issue.

"To lose by a mere 18 votes, against so many votes cast, is ludicrous to accept without objective verification and certification,'' Perrin said. "Human error alone, especially on handwritten ballots, could be the difference on whether a half billion dollar tax is being enforced upon your constituents for 20 years.''

It was the latest public attempt by anti-toll leaders to solicit support from the Parish Council to challenge the referendum's outcome. Shortly after the Nov. 6 vote was certified, leaders asked Jefferson Parish President John Young, who opposed the toll extension, and the council to contest the results. Young and Council Chairman Elton Lagasse said they would not support using parish dollars to sue over the issue.

"The parish can spend thousands of artwork placed on Veterans Boulevard and million into the Jefferson Parish Arts Center on the east bank in the name of quality of life,'' Perrin said. "A successful contest of the vote may overturn the election, which would leave some money in the pockets of Jefferson Parish residents. Having extra money in your wallet is always a quality of life issue.''

The tolls are charged to east bank-bound motorists and generate $1 million annually.

No councilmembers responded to Perrin's request. But the council did stress to an official with the state Department of Transportation and Development who spoke after Perrin a sense of urgency in demonstrating to the public that state officials will honor all promises made toll dollars.

"When the Legislature decided in the 90s to extend the tolls, they promised projects that never got constructed,'' said Parish Councilman Chris Roberts. "It's incumbent upon us to make sure those projects move forward. Anything less than that is unacceptable.''

Perrin also argued that as elected officials they would challenge such a losing outcome if affected their personal campaigns.

"Each of you is a person of influence,'' Perrin said. "You would not hold your office today without that gift. We applaud you for that ability. However, with such influence comes great responsibility.''